Two Is Better Than One

Alison Krauss and Union Station’s first album in seven years was released this week, and reviews suggest that the album, Paper Planes, was worth the wait. This award winning and much beloved blues-country outfit is led by singer and fiddle player, Alison Krauss, who filled in the band’s hiatus with 2007’s Raising Sand. This album, a collaboration between Krauss and music legend and former Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant, was a lush, gorgeous roundup of original and covered material. Listening to it still gives us goosebumps. (See “Polly Come Home” for proof.) In honor of this epic rock/country collaboration, we give you other great cross-genre collaborations. The Duo: Eminem feat. Dido The Song: “Stan” Eminen’s 2000 track about the obsession and eventual suicide of a fan, Stan, samples English singer Dido’s “Thank You.” On its own, Dido’s ambient love song is nothing but sweet. Paired with Eminem’s dark lyrics, the pretty song takes a decidedly sinister turn. Eminem also made headlines when he performed “Stan” with Elton John (who did Dido’s part), at the 2001 Grammy Awards. (That’s Dido playing Stan’s wife at the beginning of the music video). The Duo: Run DMC and Aerosmith The Song: “Walk This Way” This 1986 collaboration between hip hop outfit Run DMC and rock legends Aerosmith is cited as the moment when the walls between rock and rap came down. Literally. The song’s video features Steven Tyler busting through an actual wall with his mic stand to jam with Reverend Run and the boys. The Duo: Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney The Song: “Say, Say, Say” This 1983 George Martin-produced hit comes from McCartney’s Pipes of Peace album. Jackson wrote the song’s lyrics and McCartney played percussion, synthesizer, guitar and bass. McCartney’s wife Linda and Jackson’s sister LaToya both appear in the video. The music legends also collaborated on “The Girl is Mine” from Jackson’s massive Thriller. The Duo: Danger Mouse and James Mercer The Project: Broken Bells All the indie kids went crazy for Broken Bells eponymous debut album last year. Producer Danger Mouse (Beck, Gorillaz, MF Doom) and Shins’ vocalist Mercer decided to collaborate after meeting at a Danish music festival in 2004. They made good on that promise six years later with their critically acclaimed album. A follow-up EP, Meyrin Fields, was released last month. llison Be sure to check out: The String Quartet Tribute to Dido Available now at iTunes and Amazon The String Quartet Tribute to Aerosmith Available now at iTunes and Amazon Vitamin String Quartet Tribute to Michael Jackson Available now at iTunes and Amazon The String Quartet Tribute to Paul McCartney Available now at iTunes and Amazon